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While both are incredibly important to the recovery process, the process used by massage therapists and physical therapists differs greatly. The end goal is the same, increased health and wellbeing of their patients, but their tactics and procedures will be quite different. It is common for a patient to visit both during their healing process and, in that case, will find the benefits of the holistic side of healing used by massage therapists and the regime put in place by their physical therapists end up working in tandem to grant patients a more encompassing and thorough recovery.

Hand In Health is here with some of the key differences between these two roles, and how they use different methods to achieve their goal of helping patients regain their comfort in their everyday lives through their recovery. Located in Syracuse, NY, Hand In Health is your stop for top-quality massage therapy. If you are looking for a massage therapist, contact Hand In Health today!

The Role of Massage Therapists

As stated above, massage therapy is sometimes used as a supplemental treatment to physical therapy, meaning it is common for patients to see both throughout their recovery. It is the job of the massage therapist to meet with their patients, discuss their needs, create a treatment plan suited to those needs, and execute that plan through different types of massages such as deep tissue techniques, stretching, scar tissue release, and acupressure cupping to name a few..

There are many different types of massages, all with different techniques and benefits. This is where a massage therapist will tailor a patient’s program to meet their needs. Along with treatments, ranging normally from 30 minutes to an hour, a massage therapist will also advise the patient on proper stretching techniques and mobility exercises to work on at home in between sessions. It is important to keep a clear line of communication with your massage therapist about issues that may arise during the recovery process. Suppose something starts hurting that didn’t before, explaining this to your massage therapist gives them the opportunity
to readjust your treatment to help new and potential issues.

The Role of Physical Therapists

Whereas a massage therapist works to increase wellness through integrated methods, physical therapists focus more on repairing the function to affected areas of the body. They are able to diagnose issues, create a treatment plan, and help you execute that plan throughout your recovery process. To do this, most treatment plans make use of many techniques but mainly focus on repetition and exercise, retraining, and regrowing muscles back to their original health after injury. Similar to massage therapists, physical therapists will also help to advise you on stretches and exercises that can be performed at home between sessions. If you are currently seeing a physical therapist and are curious about supplementing your treatment with massage therapy, ask your therapist for a recommendation and they will talk through your options with you!

How They Work Together

Because both physical therapists and licensed massage therapists have the same goals in mind with different techniques involved, receiving joint treatment from both kinds of practices can oftentimes lead to a better experience for the patients. The mind and body is worked on in massage therapy whereas in physical therapy, they are worked out. This allows patients to strengthen their problem areas back to health with exercises and repetition while also giving your body and mind the holistic healing processes that massage therapy is known for.

Working Towards Recovery

Although they share the goal of helping their patients recover, both massage and physical therapists come with their own specific benefits. It has been our experience that patients who receive massage therapy during physical therapy treatment are oftentimes able to perform better in their physical therapy sessions. Joint treatment plans involving both practices may lead to a faster recovery time, but to find out which is right for you, discuss your options with your physician, or give a call to your local physical and massage therapy offices to get a better idea of how each one can help you differently.

If you are in the Syracuse, NY area and are looking for a qualified team of physical therapists, contact Onondaga Physical Therapy today!

If you are in the Syracuse, NY area and are looking for a dedicated team of massage therapists, contact Hand In Health today!